Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Restarting operations at nuclear power stations (Oi Nuclear Power Station)
• Request of submission of materials by the Diet's (Fukushima Nuclear Accident) Independent Investigation Commission to the Government's Investigation and Verification Committee

REPORTER: Regarding the restarting of operations at Oi Nuclear Power Station, today, the Minister went to give an explanation to the Union of Kansai Governments. Does the Government have any plans to go there again to provide further explanation?

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Today, Minister Goshi Hosono and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tsuyoshi Saito went to a meeting of the Union of Kansai Governments, held in Tottori Prefecture. They explained about the experts' scientific review of the criteria for judgment on the restart and whether the judgment on the restart is a routine or provisional judgment, among other matters. The Government believes that sufficient explanation was able to be provided. My understanding is that the Union of Kansai Governments will be announcing its view on the restart in the not so distant future. In this sense, responding to your question about the future, we believe that sufficient explanation was able to be provided this time around.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: On a related note, when you say that sufficient explanation was able to be provided, is your understanding then that the Government has been able to gradually obtain the understanding of the Union of Kansai Governments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: That is our view.

REPORTER: Does that mean preparations will be made to set a date for the ministerial meeting of the four ministers (on the issue of nuclear power stations) in the near future?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I think Minister Hosono is still on his way back. The date will be finalized going forward.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I believe the Diet's (Fukushima Nuclear Accident) Independent Investigation Commission has decided to ask the Government to provide materials, including the records from the hearings that the Government's Investigation and Verification Committee on the Accident conducted with stakeholders. How will the Government be responding to this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I understand that the Diet's Independent Investigation Commission has decided to request the submission of such materials. And I understand that this request is being made not to the Government but to the Government's Investigation and Verification Committee on the Accident. As you are aware, this Investigation Committee on the Accident, which was established within the Government, is quite independent from the Government. In this sense, while the Secretariat that handles the general affairs of the Government's Investigation and Verification Committee is indeed set up at the Cabinet Secretariat, in practice, the Committee independently conducts investigations as a third-party committee. For sure, it is the Government's Investigation and Verification Committee that will be making an appropriate judgment on how to respond to this request for materials. On the part of the Cabinet and the Government, for the time being, we would like to watch over the responses that will be taken. I believe this is what will happen.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: My question concerns the special monitoring system of Oi Nuclear Power Station. Can you once again discuss specifically what kind of system is envisioned at the present stage, who will be stationed, and what the significance is?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As this matter was also discussed by Minister Goshi Hosono today at the meeting of the Union of Kansai Governments, I may repeat what he said. I believe the Minister stated the following. The Government will responsibly make every effort to secure safety until the new regulatory system is established, and that readiness will be ensured for any eventuality. A special monitoring system will be established at the power station. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Senior Vice Minister, and at times maybe the Parliamentary Secretary, will constantly monitor as the person in charge. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) will be permanently stationed at the Central Control Room around the clock. The number of inspectors will be significantly increased. The around the clock monitoring system will be in place until output is 100%. The Nuclear Power Division, Offsite Center, Onsite, and NISA will be constantly connected by video conferencing. The system will be fundamentally strengthened to also allow for coordination with the Prime Minister's Office. This will be the system until the Regulatory Agency is launched. After the Regulatory Agency is launched, the system will shift to one where constant monitoring is conducted as an onsite organization. Furthermore, information will be consistently provided also to Kyoto and Shiga. The disaster management plan will be reviewed by the new organization.

REPORTER: The Governors of Kyoto and Shiga have said that they would like to be more actively involved in the monitoring system. What are your thoughts on that?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The system will be developed under the leadership of NISA. In any case, if opinions are raised at today's meeting of the Union of Kansai Governments, I am aware that further review will take place based on those opinions.

(Abridged)